Local Teens Forge Stewardship Connection
With TLC Property

Despite all their hard work on TLC's Hollow Rock Trailhead property, a group of Durham Academy student volunteers still finds time to have fun — and pose for pictures.

Stewardship specialist Doug Sprouse states the obvious: "This group is fun to work with!"

Under the supervision of their teacher, Alex Nozick, and TLC's stewardship specialist Doug Sprouse, these students decided to take on a semester-long stewardship project to help maintain our 3 acres along Erwin Road in Durham. Hollow Rock Trailhead is an important TLC property because it provides parking and trail access connecting Duke Forest and open space on New Hope Creek. TLC's main stewardship shed is also on the property.

Originally, the students didn't intend to spend all their time at Hollow Rock Trailhead, Sprouse says. "But after the first workday, Alex and I discussed the idea of keeping his group on one property for the whole semester so they can feel some attachment to the property and our organization," he explains.

Students head out for another day of hard work.

After doing all sorts of stewardship work — such as marking boundaries and helping to organize and clean up equipment — the students seem quite comfortable. "The last two days we worked out there, the kids brought weenies and marshmallows and cooked them over a campfire near our barn before heading to work," Sprouse comments.

Picking up trash and litter is the biggest stewardship need at this property because it runs along Erwin Road. Last time the students came out, they wasted no time in tackling this project, Sprouse says. "Within an hour they had filled my truck to the top and left me to haul it all off to the dump!"

Copyright © 2006-2008, Triangle Land Conservancy Last updated on 11/22/2006.